About Us

We are a small, friendly branch of The Arts Society that meets in Grayshott Village Hall on the first Thursday of the month at 2:00pm. We also run regular visits to places of interest. Visitors are welcome at all our events.

The core activities for members are monthly lectures, a programme of visits and a couple of special interest days in the course of the year. We also arrange a multi-day tour and individual events such as a bridge-drive and a Christmas lunch. We also support arts initiatives locally through the Young Arts programme and support Heritage through volunteering activities. We also work with churches to provide Church Trails to introduce children to the architecture and content of churches.

There are ten lectures each year (January to June and September to December) held at 2pm and usually on the first Thursday of the month in Grayshott Village Hall. Tea and biscuits are served after each meeting so that members can discuss the lecture and enjoy the company of other members.

We normally make around four or five visits every year to complement our series of talks. Most are one day visits in London and the Home Counties with knowledgeable guides to a wide range of places of interest or to major exhibitions. Where possible, we try to arrange visits that link with the subject of one of our recent talks – and sometimes we may be in the company of one of The Arts Society’s excellent accredited lecturers. We usually travel by comfortable coach to and from the centre of Grayshott. Sometimes members drive to a more local venue using their own cars, sharing as necessary. We also arrange occasional longer tours of a few days either further afield in the UK or abroad. There’s nothing like seeing great art, craft and architecture at first hand to learn and get inspiration – and all the better in the company of others with whom you can talk and maybe make new friends. So come and join us on our visits. You’ll get a warm welcome.

We have at least two Special Interest Days every year, which are always highly entertaining and instructive. We invite a lecturer, an expert in their field accredited by The Arts Society, to come and give us three lectures on a particular subject. There are two lectures in the morning, a break for lunch, and a final lecture in the afternoon. Members invariably enjoy these days, and feel that not only have they learnt a great deal, but have been well-entertained as well. The more intimate and informal atmosphere created by having a smaller group, means that there are more questions and detailed answers, throughout the day. Past Special Interest Days have included: Iran: Land of Great Kings, Shahs and Ayatollahs, The Romanovs: Tyrants and Martyrs of Imperial Russia, The Arts of Japan & Europe, The Golden Age of Dutch Art and Venice: The Lion of the Sea. Visitors are always very welcome, as are new members who have perhaps never been to these enjoyable days.

About The Arts Society

The Arts Society is a leading arts education charity with a global network of 385 local Societies, which bring people together through a shared curiosity for the arts. Our events provide welcoming places – locally, nationally and globally – to hear expert lecturers share their specialist knowledge about the arts. Our 90,000+ members contribute to and preserve our artistic heritage through volunteering and grants. Our strength is our people, joined together by a passion for the arts which can nourish and empower us all. Our work creates a better, healthier and more connected society.